Planners threaten Twyford couple's farming dream

Trevor and Ruth Wyatt bought a rundown poultry unit with mobile home near Winchester and aim to raise chickens for the pet trade, as well as selling eggs to the public.

Trevor, 49, and Ruth, 45, have been living at the 21-acre Hare Farm off Main Road, for 18 months.

But city council planners are unconvinced the business is viable and officers are recommending their bid for a three-year licence for a mobile home be rejected. They say the business does not need to be run from the farm itself.

Trevor, a former photocopying engineer, hopes the council will give them time to show that the business can be viable.

“This is our dream, our passion. It is what we want to do.”

Ruth said her interest stemmed from taking on some rescued battery hens. “I enjoy having the birds. I want to help other people enjoy their animals. I wanted something that I knew I could do well.”

The couple sold the house in Locks Heath, cashed in insurance, sold their cars to pay £325,000 for the smallholding.

They now have around 750 chickens as well as ducks, geese, quail and ten sheep. All the birds are free range.

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Trevor said this was not an attempt to build a house in the countryside. “We are quite happy living in the mobile home. We will never build a house here. We will never make enough money. That is not the be-all and end-all. The mobile home is comfortable enough.”

Villagers are overwhelmingly supportive with scores of expressions of support logged with the city council.

Trevor said: “No-one has objected. We are not doing anything offensive, making smells or noise.

“It is a matter of making the farm viable and to fit in with the community. We want to integrate the business with the three villages of Twyford, Colden Common and Shawford, with the schools.

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“All we want is a little bit of leeway from the council, a three-year temporary licence to show we can develop the business,” he said.

A city council spokesman said: “Planning officers are in discussion with the applicants and have advised them to withdraw their application at this time so that they can develop a stronger business case.”

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Comments (3)

I am shocked - Winchester Council needs to spend more time looking at large housing developments in the city centre or fields with mobile homes and not farms and leave these poor people alone. I have visited Hare Farm numerous times with my children and it really does contribute to the community - brilliant to buy eggs and hold the baby chicks and walk around the fields. Also it takes time to get ventures like this off the ground. Of course, they need to live there its a farm!!! Shame on you Winchester Council Planning Department

I am shocked - Winchester Council needs to spend more time looking at large housing developments in the city centre or fields with mobile homes and not farms and leave these poor people alone. I have visited Hare Farm numerous times with my children and it really does contribute to the community - brilliant to buy eggs and hold the baby chicks and walk around the fields. Also it takes time to get ventures like this off the ground. Of course, they need to live there its a farm!!! Shame on you Winchester Council Planning Departmentbjane73

I am shocked - Winchester Council needs to spend more time looking at large housing developments in the city centre or fields with mobile homes and not farms and leave these poor people alone. I have visited Hare Farm numerous times with my children and it really does contribute to the community - brilliant to buy eggs and hold the baby chicks and walk around the fields. Also it takes time to get ventures like this off the ground. Of course, they need to live there its a farm!!! Shame on you Winchester Council Planning Department

Score: 3

winchres says...10:19pm Sat 31 May 14

Speaking as someone who is now living next door to a small holding with chickens, pigs and geese all getting loose on the road and into my land along with the dog, I am very glad that WCC is showing an interest in what they are doing, they have not said no, they have just said look at the bigger picture.

Speaking as someone who is now living next door to a small holding with chickens, pigs and geese all getting loose on the road and into my land along with the dog, I am very glad that WCC is showing an interest in what they are doing, they have not said no, they have just said look at the bigger picture.winchres

Speaking as someone who is now living next door to a small holding with chickens, pigs and geese all getting loose on the road and into my land along with the dog, I am very glad that WCC is showing an interest in what they are doing, they have not said no, they have just said look at the bigger picture.

Score: 1

bjane73 says...8:49pm Sun 1 Jun 14

Hi winchres - I understand your pain but this place is in the middle of nowhere - and is a valuable rural industry e.g. free range chickens - there was also a caravan and existing poultry farm there that they bought. What you're quoting is a completely different situation.

Hi winchres - I understand your pain but this place is in the middle of nowhere - and is a valuable rural industry e.g. free range chickens - there was also a caravan and existing poultry farm there that they bought. What you're quoting is a completely different situation.bjane73

Hi winchres - I understand your pain but this place is in the middle of nowhere - and is a valuable rural industry e.g. free range chickens - there was also a caravan and existing poultry farm there that they bought. What you're quoting is a completely different situation.

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